Worship & Celebrations

We invite you to join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30am for a warm, wonderful and welcoming Worship Celebration. For us, worship is
not guided by a specific religious creed but by a belief in the power and sacredness of a covenant based on unconditional love.

We are a multicultural family comprised of a congregation united by our Unitarian Universalist Principles and mission to Connect with one another deeply in community, Inspire reverence and spiritual growth,
and Serve each other and the world. No matter where you are in life, or on your spiritual journey, you are always welcome at our church home.

Nestled in the beautiful neighborhood of Shadyside in Pittsburgh’s East End, First Unitarian is in the center of a vibrant
and diverse community of people. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Special Celebrations

We have several special celebrations throughout the year; they reflect a variety of religious traditions.

Ingathering Sunday Our church year begins with Ingathering Sunday, which typically takes place on the first Sunday after Labor Day. This high-energy
day marks the transition from the quieter summer Sundays to the more intensive Sundays of the fall, winter, and spring.

The Days of Awe We devote a Sunday to exploring the universal spiritual themes such as atonement and forgiveness that can found in the Jewish High
Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Stewardship Sunday This typically takes place on the first Sunday in October and it is our time for being mindful of the importance of sustaining
our church financially.

Indigenous Peoples’ Sunday and United Nations Sunday These October holidays offer opportunities for reminding ourselves of the importance of building world community.

All Souls Sunday We customarily celebrate All Souls Sunday on the first Sunday in November. During this service we read the names of members and friends
of First Unitarian Church who have died in the previous twelve months. Also, if you are a member or friend of First Unitarian Church and one of
your close relatives has died in the previous twelve months, we will read the name of that person as well.

Veterans Sunday In recent years, we have invited the veterans in our church to stand and be recognized.

Thanksgiving Sunday This is a multi-generational celebration for all ages. We welcome new members into our church on this Sunday.

Advent We light candles on our Advent wreath throughout this season of four Sundays.

Hanukkah We explore spiritual themes in this Jewish holiday that are meaningful for us as Unitarian Universalists.

Solstice Celebration Our celebration of the winter solstice takes place in the evening, with the Dance Choir leading the way.

Christmas Eve We have two worship celebrations on Christmas Eve. Drawing on the work of the Unitarian composer Joyce Poley, we present a children’s
pageant at the 4:30 PM Family Service. The Pittsburgh Brass Project accompanies our 7:30 PM Candlelight Service.

Kwanzaa We believe that while Kwanzaa holds meaning for African-Americans, others may also find spiritual value in this holiday.

First Sunday in the New Year The order of service for the First Sunday in the New Year usually includes time for reflective writing.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday This is a time when we honor the memory and vision of Dr. King and the values he lived for.

Black History Month We are attentive to the history of African-Americans during February.

Special Friends Sunday To drive away our mid-winter blues, we have an ice cream social after church on this Sunday!

Women’s History Month We are attentive to the history of the women’s movement during March.

Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday/Good Friday, and Easter During Holy Week, we find our own Unitarian Universalist meanings as we reflect on the life and
message of Jesus of Nazareth.

Passover We explore spiritual themes in this Jewish holiday that are meaningful for us as Unitarian Universalists.

Earth Sunday This is a time when we affirm our kinship with all life on earth, and a time when we affirm our responsibility for living in sustainable
and earth-friendly ways.

Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day These are days for being especially mindful of family. Annual Meeting Sunday. We welcome new members into our church
on this Sunday.

Memorial Sunday Over the years we have explored a variety of messages about peace on this Sunday.

Moving Up Sunday We celebrate the transitions that people of all ages are going through, and we do a bridging ceremony for our high school seniors.

Flower Communion Bring a flower to share as we celebrate this uniquely Unitarian Universalist holiday.

Pride Sunday Following this worship celebration, we encourage those attending to participate in the Pride Parade downtown.